I have driven past Aarburg so many times on the highway to Bern that I had to stop there eventually. Its stunning castle was always calling my name as I drove by admiring its majestic position on the rock above the town.
Aarberg is actually part of the Zofingen district in the canton of Aargau right on the border with canton Solothurn. It is actually not too far away from Olten, so you too may have noticed it on your travels.
It is also situated on the Aare river (one of the major Swiss rivers) where it meets the smaller Wigger river, so it already has a stunning location to boast about. And then there is the Aarburg Castle as I mentioned above.
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Aarburg Castle
The Aarburg castle which dominates the town from above was actually built in the nearly 12th century. So, a long time before you or I were even a sparkle in our parent’s eyes!
Unfortunately for this stunning architectural masterpiece, it was damaged by a fire on the northern side in 1840 and never rebuilt. however, the remnants are still something to behold.
Perhaps not so surprisingly, the whole castle complex is classified as a cultural site of national importance, although today it is not something you can visit because it serves as a juvenile detention center.
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Aarburg Town
There is actually not a lot to see in Aarburg town itself, although if you walk along the river away from the castle you will get the best shot of the castle as you can see above. If you are lucky there are even some wooden boats docked on the shore which adds to the flair of the photo.
Restaurants in Aarburg
Although we did not have time to visit any restaurants in Aarburg, there seem to be 3-4 options in town if you are here.
- Ristorante Central Made in sud
- La Perla
- Arbi’s
- Restaurant Traube
1000er Stägli (1000 Steps)
We visited the town of Aarburg on our way to walk the nearby 1000 steps (1000er Stägli in German), which is a fun but brutal walk to the top of the nearby hill via a boatload of steps. It was recommended by a friend who does it for fun. We are fit too, but it certainly challenged us!
